Optimistic and possible contribution of nanomaterial on biomedical applications: A review

Multipedal DNA Walker: Engineering Strategy, Biosensing Application and Future Perspectives

With the continuous development of DNA nanotechnology, DNA walkers have attracted increased attention because of their autonomous and progressive walking along predesigned tracks. Compared with the traditional DNA walkers, the emerged multipedal DNA walkers showed their special charm with sustainable walking capability, higher reaction efficiency, expanded walking region, and improved amplification capability. Consequently, multipedal DNA walkers have developed rapidly and shown potential in biosensing applications. Hence, in this review, we make a comprehensive representation of the engineering strategy of multipedal DNA walkers, which focused on the design of multiple walking strands as well as the construction of tracks and driving forces. Meanwhile, the application of multipedal DNA walkers in biosensors has been thoroughly described according to the type of biosensing signal readout. By illustrating some representative works, we also summarized the merits and challenges of multipedal DNA walker-based biosensors and offered a deep discussion of the latest progress and future.

Magnetic nanoparticles and possible synergies with cold atmospheric plasma for cancer treatment

The biomedical applications of magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) have gained increasing attention due to their unique biological, chemical, and magnetic properties such as biocompatibility, chemical stability, and high magnetic susceptibility. However, several critical issues still remain that have significantly halted the clinical translation of these nanomaterials such as the relatively low therapeutic efficacy, hyperthermia resistance, and biosafety concerns. To identify innovative approaches possibly creating synergies with MNPs to resolve or mitigate these problems, we delineated the anti-cancer properties of MNPs and their existing onco-therapeutic portfolios, based on which we proposed cold atmospheric plasma (CAP) to be a possible synergizer of MNPs by enhancing free radical generation, reducing hyperthermia resistance, preventing MNP aggregation, and functioning as an innovative magnetic and light source for magnetothermal- and photo-therapies. Our insights on the possible facilitating role of CAP in translating MNPs for biomedical use may inspire fresh research directions that, once actualized, gain mutual benefits from both.

Low toxicity of magnetite-based modified bionanocomposites with potential application for wastewater treatment: Evaluation in a zebrafish animal model

In recent years, the escalating concerns surrounding environmental pollution and the need for sustainable wastewater treatment solutions have underscored the significance of developing technologies that can efficiently treat wastewater while also reducing negative ecological effects. In this context, our study aims to contribute to the advancement of sustainable technologies for wastewater treatment, by investigating the effects that bare magnetite nanoparticles and those functionalized with the enzyme laccase could have in an aquatic animal, zebrafish, at various life cycle stages. Exposure to magnetite nanoparticles shows some effects on embryo hatching, survival rates, or larval behavior at higher concentrations. For both treatments, the hatching percentages were close to 80% compared to 93% for the control group. At the end of the observations in larvae, survival in all the evaluated groups was higher than 90%. Additionally, we evaluated the accumulation of nanoparticles in various stages of zebrafish. We found that, although there was accumulation during embryonic stages, it did not affect normal development or subsequent hatching. Iron levels in different organs such as gills, muscles, gastrointestinal tract, and brain were also evaluated in adults. Animals treated with a mix of food and nanoparticles at 10 μg/mL (Food group) presented a higher concentration of iron accumulation in muscle, gastrointestinal tract, and gills compared to the untreated control group. Although iron levels increased depending on the dose and exposure method applied, they were not statistically significant from the control groups. Our findings suggest that bionanocomposites evaluated here can be considered safe for removal of contaminants in wastewater without toxic effects or detrimental accumulation fish's health.

Green synthesis of zinc oxide nanoparticles from Sida acuta leaf extract for antibacterial and antioxidant applications, and catalytic degradation of dye through the use of convolutional neural network

This study synthesized zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) using a novel green approach, with Sida acuta leaf extract as a capping and reducing agent to initiate nucleation and structure formation. The innovation of this study lies in demonstrating the originality of utilizing zinc oxide nanoparticles for antibacterial action, antioxidant potential, and catalytic degradation of Congo red dye. This unique approach harnesses eco-friendly methods to initiate nucleation and structure formation. The synthesized nanoparticles' structure and conformation were characterized using UV-vis (λmax = 280 nm), X-ray, atomic force microscopy, SEM, HR-TEM and FTIR. The antibacterial activity of the Nps was tested against Pseudomonas sp, Klebsiella sp, Staphylococcus aureus, and E. coli, demonstrating efficacy. The nanoparticles exhibited unique properties, with a crystallite size of 20 nm (XRD), a surface roughness of 2.5 nm (AFM), and a specific surface area of 60 m2/g (SEM). A Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) was effectively employed to accurately classify and analyze microscopic images of green-synthesized zinc oxide nanoparticles. This research revealed their exceptional antioxidant potential, with an average DPPH scavenging rate of 80% at a concentration of 0.05 mg/mL. Additionally, zeta potential measurements indicated a stable net negative surface charge of approximately -12.2 mV. These quantitative findings highlight the promising applications of green-synthesized ZnO NPs in healthcare, materials science, and environmental remediation. The ZnO nanoparticles exhibited catalytic capabilities for dye degradation, and the degradation rate was determined using UV spectroscopy. Key findings of the study encompass the green synthesis of versatile zinc oxide nanoparticles, demonstrating potent antibacterial action, antioxidant capabilities, and catalytic dye degradation potential. These nanoparticles offer multifaceted solutions with minimal environmental impact, addressing challenges in various fields, from healthcare to environmental remediation.

Inorganic nanoparticle-cored dendrimers for biomedical applications: A review

Hybrid nanostructures exhibit a synergistic combination of features derived from their individual components, showcasing novel characteristics resulting from their distinctive structure and chemical/physical properties. Surface modifiers play a pivotal role in shaping INPs' primary attributes, influencing their physicochemical properties, stability, and functional applications. Among these modifiers, dendrimers have gained attention as highly effective multifunctional agents for INPs, owing to their unique structural qualities, dendritic effects, and physicochemical properties. Dendrimers can be seamlessly integrated with diverse inorganic nanostructures, including metal NPs, carbon nanostructures, silica NPs, and QDs. Two viable approaches to achieving this integration involve either growing or grafting dendrimers, resulting in inorganic nanostructure-cored dendrimers. The initial step involves functionalizing the nanostructures' surface, followed by the generation of dendrimers through stepwise growth or attachment of pre-synthesized dendrimer branches. This hybridization imparts superior qualities to the resulting structure, including biocompatibility, solubility, high cargo loading capacity, and substantial functionalization potential. Combining the unique properties of dendrimers with those of the inorganic nanostructure cores creates a multifunctional system suitable for diverse applications such as theranostics, bio-sensing, component isolation, chemotherapy, and cargo-carrying applications. This review summarizes the recent developments, with a specific focus on the last five years, within the realm of dendrimers. It delves into their role as modifiers of INPs and explores the potential applications of INP-cored dendrimers in the biomedical applications.

Piezoelectricity, Pyroelectricity, and Ferroelectricity in Biomaterials and Biomedical Applications

Piezoelectric, pyroelectric, and ferroelectric materials are considered unique biomedical materials due to their dielectric crystals and asymmetric centers that allow them to directly convert various primary forms of energy in the environment, such as sunlight, mechanical energy, and thermal energy, into secondary energy, such as electricity and chemical energy. These materials possess exceptional energy conversion ability and excellent catalytic properties, which have led to their widespread usage within biomedical fields. Numerous biomedical applications have demonstrated great potential with these materials, including disease treatment, biosensors, and tissue engineering. For example, piezoelectric materials are used to stimulate cell growth in bone regeneration, while pyroelectric materials are applied in skin cancer detection and imaging. Ferroelectric materials have even found use in neural implants that record and stimulate electrical activity in the brain. This paper reviews the relationship between ferroelectric, piezoelectric, and pyroelectric effects and the fundamental principles of different catalytic reactions. It also highlights the preparation methods of these three materials and the significant progress made in their biomedical applications. The review concludes by presenting key challenges and future prospects for efficient catalysts based on piezoelectric, pyroelectric, and ferroelectric nanomaterials for biomedical applications.

2D silicene nanosheets-loaded coating for combating implant-associated infection

Implant-associated infection (IAI) is an unsolved problem in orthopaedics. Current therapies, including antibiotics and surgical debridement, can lead severe clinical and financial burdens on patients. Therefore, there is an urgent need to reinforce the inherent antibacterial properties of implants. Recently, two-dimensional (2D) silicene nanosheets (SNs) have gained increasing attention in biomedical fields owing to their considerable biocompatibility, biodegradability and strong photothermal-conversion performance. Herein, a dual-functional photosensitive coating on a Ti substrate (denoted as TPSNs) was rationally fabricated for bacterial inhibition and osteogenesis promotion. For the first time, SNs were loaded onto the surface of implants. Hyperthermia generated by the SNs and polydopamine (PDA) coating under 808 nm laser irradiation achieved the in vitro anti-bacterial efficiency of 90.7 ± 2.4 % for S. aureus and 88.0 ± 5.8 % for E. coli, respectively. In addition, TPSNs exhibited promising biocompatibility for the promotion of BMSC (bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells) proliferation and spreading. The presence of silicon (Si) in TPSNs contributed to the improved osteogenic differentiation of BMSCs, elevating the expressions of RUNX2 and OCN. In animal experiments, the combination of TPSNs with photothermal therapy (PTT) achieved an anti-bacterial efficiency of 89.2 % ± 1.6 % against S. aureus. Furthermore, TPSNs significantly improved bone-implant osseointegration in vivo. Overall, the development of a dual-functional TPSNs coating provides a new strategy for combating IAI.

Sustainable functionalized chitosan based nano-composites for wound dressings applications: A review

Functionalized chitosan nanocomposites have been studied for wound dressing applications due to their excellent antibacterial and anti-fungal properties. Polysaccharides show excellent antibacterial and drug-release properties and can be utilized for wound healing. In this article, we comprise distinct approaches for chitosan functionalization, such as photosensitizers, dendrimers, graft copolymerization, quaternization, acylation, carboxyalkylation, phosphorylation, sulfation, and thiolation. The current review article has also discussed brief insights on chitosan nanoparticle processing for biomedical applications, including wound dressings. The chitosan nanoparticle preparation technologies have been discussed, focusing on wound dressings owing to their targeted and controlled drug release behavior. The future directions of chitosan research include; a) finding an effective solution for chronic wounds, which are unable to heal completely; b) providing effective wound healing solutions for diabetic wounds and venous leg ulcers; c) to better understanding the wound healing mechanism with such materials which can help provide the optimum solution for wound dressing; d) to provide an improved treatment option for wound healing.

Potential applications of Fe3+-activated Sr9Al6O18 nanophosphors for fingerprint detection, oxidative stress, and thrombosis treatment

This study reports on the synthesis of Fe³⁺-activated Sr₉Al₆O₁₈ nanophosphors (SAO:Fe NPs) using a simple solution combustion process, which emits a pale green light and possesses excellent fluorescence properties. An in-situ powder dusting method was utilized to extract unique ridge features of latent fingerprints (LFPs) on various surfaces using ultra-violet 254 nm excitation. The results showed that SAO:Fe NPs possess high contrast, high sensitivity, and no background interference, enabling the observation of LFPs for longer periods. Poroscopy, which is the examination of sweat pores on the skin's papillary ridges, is important in the identification process, and the YOLOv8x program based on deep convolutional neural networks was used to study the features visible in FPs. The potential of SAO:Fe NPs to ameliorate oxidative stress and thrombosis was analyzed. The results showed that SAO:Fe NPs have antioxidant properties by scavenging 2,2-diphenylpicrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and normalized the stress markers in NaNO₂-induced oxidative stress in Red Blood Cells (RBC). In addition, SAO:Fe inhibited platelet aggregation induced by adenosine diphosphate (ADP). Therefore, SAO:Fe NPs may have potential applications in advanced cardiology and forensic sciences. Overall, this study highlights the synthesis and potential applications of SAO:Fe NPs, which can enhance the sensitivity and specificity of fingerprint detection and provide insights into developing novel treatments for oxidative stress and thrombosis.